Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



Oct. 9, 1945., A. B. CLAYTON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1944 :s Sheets-sheaf 1 Oct. 9, 1945.

A. B. CLAYTON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 9, 1945. A. B. CLAYTON FEEDINCj: MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 za g6 cflndrezzl 15. daylon- Patented Oct. 9, 1945 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHIN Andrew B. Clayton, Elizabeth, N. J assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 27, 1944, Serial No. 565,213

13 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to sewing machines of the socalled family or domestic type.

A primary object of the present invention is to render available a relatively small, lightweight, easy running sewing machine adapted to be used selectively for performing any one of a plurality of unlike sewing operations, such, for example, as plain sewing on flat work, plain sewing around either large or small tubular articles, or darning and embroidering on either flat or tubular Work.

To enable the machine to sew around small tubular articles it is essential that the machine be provided with a cylindrical work-arm, of relatively small diameter, around which the articles to be sewed may be placed. In sewing machines in which the work-arm contains a loop-taking mechanism and also a work-feeding mechanism, preferably of the four-motioned type, great difficulty heretofore has been experienced in constructing a machine of this nature in which the work-arm is sufficiently small to receive thereon small tubular articles such for example as the legs and sleeves of small childrens clothing or small socks and stockings.

I have accomplished this result by providing an improved four-motioned feeding mechanism and so nesting it with the loop-taker mechanism that they may be housed within a cylindrical work-arm of unusually small diameter.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved work-supporting plate adapted to be removably attached to the cylindrical workarm of the machine to facilitate use of the machine when performing plain sewing on flat work.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a left end view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, with the face-plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, and 6 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 4-4, 55 and 6-6, respectively, in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the free end portion of the work-arm of the machine, looking in the direction opposite to Fig. 1, showing the loop-taker anda portion of the feeding mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of that portion of the feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom view showing the actuating means for the rotary loop-taker Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a lightweight, portable sewing machine having a frame comprising aninverted box-like base I, a cylindrical work-arm 2 secured to and projecting laterally therefrom, a bracket-arm secured to the base and including a standard 3 and an overhanging arm 4 formed integral with the standard; The bracket-arm terminates in a hollow bracket-arm head 5 which is normally closed by a removable face-plate 6. Jfournaled lengthwise in the bracket-arm is a main or needle-bar driving shaft 1 carrying at its rear end, acombined beltand hand-wheel 8 which may be driven from any suitable source of power, such, for example, as by an electric motor M secured upon a rearward extension 1 of the base I. At its forward end the shaft I has secured to it a crankdisk 9 carrying a crank-pin l0, which-through a link II and collar 12, transmits reciprocatory motions to a needle-bar I3 slidingly mounted in bearings l4 and IS in the head 5. At its lower end, the needle-bar l3 carries an eye-pointed needle N which, in the formation of stitches, c'ooperates with a loop-taker L, later to be referred to, located in the work-arm 2. Also mounted in the head 5 is a spring-depressed presser-bar l6 carrying, at its lower end a presser-foot P. A throat-plate T is secured upon the forward end of the work-arm and is provided with the usual needle-hole n and feed-dog slots 1.

The loop-taker L is secured upon the forward end of a rotary loop-taker shaft ll journaled axially of the work-arm 2 in bearings l8 and 19 carried, respectively, by the arm 2 and the mechanism comprises a feed-dog 25 carried by rock-shaft 4|]. At its forward end, the shaft 40 carries a depending arm 55, the lower end of which is forked and straddles the stud 21, before mentioned. Thus oscillations of the shaft 4!] effect back and forth lateral movement of the stud 21 and the lower end of the feed-bar 26 journaled thereon; the stud 2'! sliding sidewise in the forked end 28 of the feed lif-t rockarm 28. The upper end of the feed-bar is given similar back and forth movements, thereby to transmit substantially parallel feed and return an upright feed-bar 26 supported upon a float ing stud 21. The element 26 is of arcuate shape to fit within the work-arm-and avoid contact with the shaft IT and its forward bearing. The

stud 2'! is supported in the forked free end 28 of a feed-lift rock-arm 28, having a bifurcated shank secured upon the outer end of a. feed-lift rock-shaft 29 journaled in bearings 3!), 3i to extend lengthwise within the work-arm 2 below and to the right of the loop-taker shaft IT, as viewed from the free end of the work-arm. The shaft 29 is given oscillatory movements from an eccentric 32, secured upon the main shaft 1, through the medium of a pitman '33 having one end embracing the eccentric 32 and its opposite end pivotally connected at 34, to an arm 35 projecting laterally from a feed-drive rocker 36 journaled in the base I. The rocker 36 also has secured to it a longitudinally slotted arm 31 to which is adjustably connected one end of a link 38, the opposite end of which link is pivotally connected to an arm 39 clamped upon the feed-' lift rock-shaft 29. The amplitude of movement transmitted to the shaft 29 from the eccentric 32, and thereby theamount of vertical movement transmitted to the feed-bar 26 and the feed-dog secured thereto, may be varied by shifting the point of connection between the arm 3! and the link 38.

Substantially parallel forward and backward, or feed and return, movements are given to the feed-bar and feed-dog 25, in timed relation to their upward anddownward movements, by a feed-drive rock-shaft 40 journaled in a long bearing 4| within the work-arm 2, above and to the left of the loop-taker shaft H, as viewed from the free end of the work-arm. The shaft 40 is oscillated from a cam 42 secured upon the shaft 1 throughmechanism comprising an oscillatable and endwise movable lever 43, pivoted,

at 44, to an arm 45 projecting from a feed-drive rocker 46 journaled in the base I. The lever 43 is formed with a forked upper end 43 which straddles and engages the cam 42. Thus rotation of the shaft '1 and cam 42 effect oscillatory movements of the lever 43 about its pivot 44. These oscillatory movements are translated into endwise movements of the lever by the action of a roller stud 41 carried by the lever and tracking the walls of a slot 48 formed in a tiltable block 49 pivotally secured to the standard 3 by downwardly from the rear end of the feed-drive movements to the feed-bar and the feed-dog carfled-thereby, by means new to be described. 'Pivotally connected to the arm 55 intermediate its ends, by a stud 56, is one end of a curved link 5], the other end of which carries a stud 58 journaled in a boss 59 projecting laterally from the mid-portion of a rock-arm 60. The rock-arm G9 is formed integral with a sleeve 6: which is journaled, for oscillatory motion, on the feed-lift rock-shaft 29. At its upper end, the arm 60 carries a boss 82, in which is journaled a stud 83 projecting laterally from one end of a link 64. The other end of the link 64 carries an oppositely projecting stud 55 journaled in a bore 66 in the upper end of the-feed-bar 26.

Upon oscillation of the feed-drive rock-shaft 49;the forked lower end of the arm 55 moves the stud 21 and the lower end of the feed-bar 26 back and forth transversely of the work-arm 2. Similar movements are transmitted from the arm 55 to the upper end of the feed-bar through the link 51, arm 60 and link 64. Thus the en-- tire feed-bar 26 and the feed-dog 25 carried thereby are given feed-and-return' movements in substantially parallel horizontal planes in timed relation with the rising and falling movements transmitted thereto from the feed-lift rockshaft 29.

When fitted as above described, the machine is adapted-to perform plain stitching on either flat or tubular work. To facilitate use of the machine in doing plain sewingon flat work I have provided an auxiliary work-supporting plate, of substantial'size, which is adapted selectively to be secured upon, or removed from the work-arm. When the plate is secured to the work-arm, its upper surface is's'ubstantially flush with the upper surface of the throat-plate T and affords a relatively large work-supporting area. This auxiliary work-support, designated W, is shown detached from the machine in Fig. 10 and as secured upon the work-arm in Fig. 11. As shown most clearly in Fig. 10 the auxiliary work-support is provided with a substantially square aperture 61 adapted to receive the throat-plate T which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, projects upwardly from the upper surface of the work-arm. Adjacent its right edge, the auxiliary work-support is providedwith two lugs 68 each carrying a pointed dowel pin 59 adapted to enter a dowel hole lil formed in the base I to locate the auxiliary worksupport on the machine base and work-arm. Depending from the under side of the auxiliary work-support is a substantially U-shaped bracket, or stirrup, H which straddles the work-arm 2 and carries athumb-screw 12 designed to be adjusted into contact with the under side .of the work-arm, thereby to draw the work-support downwardly into firm contact with the upper face of the work-arm. H p

The above described vmachine may also be adapted for darning operations and the like on either flat or tubular j work by securing to the machine, above the. throat-plate, 'a feed coverplateof any suitable or preferred form, such, for example, as a feed-cover plate of the .type illustrated in United States patent to Stafford, No. 937,112, Oct. 19, 1909.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that I have provided a sewing machine capable of performing both plain sewing and darning or like operations on either flat or tubular work. Furthermore, it will be perceived that I have provided an improved form of four-motioned feeding mechanism in which the feed and return movements are in substantially parallel horizontal planes and which is adapted to be embodied in a tubular work-arm of relatively small diameter.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is: 1

1. A work-feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-drive shaft; a feed lift shaft; means to actuate said shafts; an upright feed-bar; a feed-dog carried by said feedbar; means actuated by said feed-drive shaft and connected to the upper and lower ends of said feed-bar for giving to the feed-bar and the feeddog carried thereby feed and return movements;

and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft and connected to said feed-bar to give to the feed bar up and down movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

2. A work-feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-drive shaft; a feed-lift shaft; means to actuate said shafts; an upright feed bar; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft and connected to one end of said feed-bar; a second rock-arm journaled on said feed-lift shaft; means to actuate said second rock-arm; a link connecting said second rock-arm with the other end of said feed-bar, said rock-arms giving to the feed-bar and the feed-dog carried thereby feed and return movements; and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft and connected to said feedbar to give to the feed-bar up and down movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

3. A work-feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-drive rock-shaft; a feed-lift rock-shaft; shafts; an upright feed-bar; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft and connected to one end of said feed-bar, a second rock-arm journaled on said feed-lift shaft; a link connection between said rock-arms for actuating one from the other, an

operative connection between said second rockarm and the other end of said feed-bar, said rock-arms giving to the feed-bar and the feeddog carried thereby feed and return movements; and a third rock-arm carried by said feed-lift shaft and connected to said feed-bar to give to the feed-bar up and down movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

4. A work-feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-drive rock-shaft; a feed-lift rock-shaft; a first rock-arm carried by said feed-lift rock-shaft and having a slotted free end; a stud slidingly mounted in the slotted end of said rock-arm; an upright feed-bar having its lower end mounted on said stud; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a second rock-arm carried by said feed-drive rock-shaft and having its free end engaging said stud; a third rock-arm journaled coaxial with said feed-lift shaft; means to actuate said third rock-arm from said second means to oscillate said rock-arm; a driving connection from said third rock-arm to the upper end of said feed-bar; means to actuate said feed-drive shaft to give to said feed-banfeedand return movements; and means to actuate said feed-lift shaft to give to the feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

5. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a work-arm and an overhanging bracketarm; stitch-forming mechanism including an eye-pointed needle mounted for reciprocation in said bracket-arm and a complemental loop-taker in said work-arm; and work-feeding mechanism including an upright feed-bar, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a feed-drive shaft and a feed-,-

lift shaft each journaled within said work-arm,

feeding mechanism including an upright feedbar, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a feeddrive shaft and a feed-lift shaft each journaled within said work-arm, a rock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft, an operative connection between said rock-arm and one end of said feed-bar, a second rock-arm journaled coaxial with said feed-lift shaft, means to actuate said second rock-arm, an operative connection between said second rock-arm and the other end of said feedbar, said rock-arms and operative connections givin to said feed-bar feed and return movements, and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft to give to said feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

7. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a base, a hollow work-arm projecting therefrom and a bracket-arm supported from said base and overhanging said work-arm; a main shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; stitchforming mechanism actuated from said main shaft and including a reciprocating eye-pointed needle and a complemental loop-taker; workfeeding mechanism including a feed-drive shaft and a feed-lift shaft each journaled in said workarm; means to actuate said feed-lift and feeddrive shafts from said main shaft; an upright feed-bar in said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft and operatively connected to one end of said feed-bar; a second rock-arm journaled in said work-arm; a link connection between said rock-arms whereby the second is actuated from the first; a link connection between said second rock-arm and the other end of said feed-bar, said rock-arms transmitting to said feed-bar feed and return movements; and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft to give to said feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

8. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a base, a hollow work-arm projecting therefrom and a bracket-arm supported from said base and overhanging said work-arm; a main shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; forming mechanism actuated from said main shaft and including a reciprocating eye-pointed needle and a complemental rotary loop-taker; work-feeding mechanism including feed-drive and feed-lift shafts journaled in said work-arm at opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said loop-taker; means to actuate said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts from said main shaft; an upright feed-bar in said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft'and operatively connected to one end of said feed-bar; a second rock-arm journaled on said feed lift shaft; a link connection between said rock-arms whereby the second is actuated from the first; a link connection between said second rock-arm and the other end of said feed-bar; said rock-arms transmitting to said feed-bar feed and return movements; and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft to give to said feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

9. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a base, a hollow work-arm projecting therefrom and a bracket-arm supported from said base and overhanging said work-arm; a main shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; stitchforming mechanism actuated from said main shaft and including a reciprocating eye-pointed needle and a complemental rotary loop-taker, work-feeding mechanism including a feed-drive shaft journaled in said work-arm above and at one side of the axis of rotation of said loop-taker and a feed-life shaft journaled in said work-arm below and at the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the loop-taker; means to actuate said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts; an upright feedbar in said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by said feeddrive shaft and operatively connected to one end of said feed-bar; a second rock-arm journaled in said work-arm; a link connection between said rock-arms whereby the second is actuated from the first; a link connection between said second rock-arm and the other end of said feed-bar, said rock-arms transmitting to said feed-bar feed and return movements; and an arm carried by said feed-lift shaft and connected with said feed-bar to give to the feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

10. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a base, a hollow work-arm projecting therefrom and a bracket-arm supported from said base and overhanging said work-arm; a main shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; stitch-forming mechanism actuated from said main shaft and including a reciprocating eyepointed needle and a complemental rotary looptaker; work-feeding mechanism including a feed-drive shaft journaled in said work-arm above and at one side of the axis of rotation of said loop-taker and a feed-lift shaft journaled in said work-arm below and at the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the loop-taker; means to actuate said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts, an upright feed-bar in the outer end portion of said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a first rock-arm carried by and depending from said feed-drive shaft and per-- atively connected to the lower end of said feedbar; a second rock-arm journaled eoaxially with stitch and extending upwardly from said feed-lift shaft, a link connection between said rock-arms whereby the second is actuated from the first; a link connection between said second rock-arm and the upper end of said feed-bar, said rockarms transmitting to said feed-bar feed and return movements; and means actuated by said feed-lift shaft to give to said feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

11. A sewing machine comprising a frame including a base, a hollow work-arm projecting therefrom and a bracket-arm supported from said base and overhanging said work-arm; a main shaft journaled in said bracket-arm: stitch-forming mechanism actuated from said main shaft and including a reciprocating eyepointed needle and a complemental rotary looptaker; work-feeding mechanism including a feed-drive shaft journaled in said work-arm at one side of the axis ofrctation of said loop-taker and a feed-lift rock-shaft journaled in said work-arm at the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the loop-taker; means to actuate said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts; an upright feedbar in the outer end portion of said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; a firstrock-arm carried by said feed-drive shaft and operatively connected to one end of said feedbar; a second rock-arm journaled in said workarm; a link connection between said rock-arms below the axis of rotation of the loop-taker whereby the second is actuated from the first; a link connection above the axis of rotation of the loop-taker between said second rock-arm and the other end of said feed-bar, said rock-arms transmitting to said feed-bar feed and return movements; and means actuated by said feedlift shaft to give to said feed-bar rising and falling movements in timed relation with its feed and return movements.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame comprising a base, a bracket-arm secured thereto. and a work-arm projecting laterally from said base; a main shaft journaled in said bracketarm; a work-feeding mechanism comprising a feed-lift shaft and a feed-drive shaft each journaled lengthwise of said work-arm; an upright feed-bar in said work-arm; a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar; means to give to said feed-bar up and down and feed and return movements from said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts, respectively; and means to actuate said feed-lift and feed-drive shafts from said main shaft comprising a feed-lift rocker and a feed-drive rocker each journaled in said base; operative connections between said main shaft and said rockers; an operative connection between said feed-lift rocker and said feed-lift shaft; and an operative connection between said feed-drive rocker and said feed-drive shaft.

13. In a sewing machine having a frame including a horizontally disposed work-arm free at one end, a pair of upright and oppositely directed feed-advance rock-arms journaled in and spaced from each other crosswise of said workarm, means for actuating said rock-arms in unison, a horizontally disposed feed-lift rock-arm, a vertically disposed feed-bar connected to said feed-lift rock-arm for movement therewith and relatively thereto, and operative connections between the opposite ends of said feed-bar and said feed-advance rock-arms.

ANDREW B. CLAYTON. 

